National Crime Victimization Survey

The NCVS is administered to persons age 12 or older from a nationally representative sample of households in the U.S. Nationally representative sample of ~240,000 interviews, involving 160,000 unique persons in about 95,000 households

• Mixed or multi modes
• Survey (self- or interviewer-administered)

Each year, data are obtained from a nationally representative sample of about 240,000 interviews on criminal victimization, involving 160,000 unique persons in about 95,000 households. Persons are interviewed on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of criminal victimization in the United States. Once selected, households remain in the sample for 3.5 years, and eligible persons in these households are interviewed every 6 months, either in person or over the phone, for a total of seven interviews.

First interviews are typically conducted in person with subsequent interviews conducted either in person or by phone. New households rotate into the sample on an ongoing basis to replace outgoing households that have been in the sample for the 3½-year period. The sample includes persons living in group quarters (e.g., dormitories, rooming houses, and religious group dwellings) and excludes persons living on military bases and in institutional settings (e.g., correctional or hospital facilities) and persons who are homeless.

Only the 2012 NCVS is PIKed. To assign PIKs, request the BOC National Crime Victimization Survey Crosswalk.

• Census region
• Census tract
• Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)
• County FIPS code
• State FIPS code
• State name
• Master address file identification number (MAFID)